Friday, 27 December 2013

I'm an adventurer. I love seeking out places I've never been to before; sometimes they'd hold special meaning to me, and sometimes they'll just be beautiful or unique or weird. This year has brought a lot of exploring through travel, so, to see in the New Year, I thought I'd compile my travel highlights from across the last twelve months.

In no particular order...

1. Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire
My visit to Byron's ancestral home in March was quite a surprise; I hadn't expected to make it down to Newstead Abbey for a good few years, so when the opportunity came up I jumped at it. The building is beautiful, even without its Byron connections. There are so many stories to be told, so many secrets waiting to be discovered. If I could live there, I would!

2. Harrow School, Harrow
I don't think my mind has left Harrow School since my visit in June. I was fortunate enough to look through the Byron archives there, and in the process I fell in love with the school and the area, and St Mary's Church where Allegra and the Peachey Stone both rest. As I sit here, I can hear it calling me...

Peachey Stone

3. Belsize Park and Hampstead
Apparently I belong in North-West London. Not only does my heart yearn for Harrow, but it has found itself a home in Belsize Park and Hampstead alike. The general area is beautiful; I've never felt so at home anywhere before. I've a lot of love for Budgens of Belsize Park (I've an odd fascination with the shop!) and could spend hours at St-John's-at-Hampstead churchyard, pouring over the grave of Eva Gore-Booth. I cannot return there soon enough.

4. Seaham Hall, Seaham, Co. Durham
I'd been longing to visit Seaham Hall for a long time, but, for whatever reason, it took me quite a while to get round to it. It was certainly worth the wait though. I received a lovely tour of most of the building after I asked about the room in which Lord Byron was married, and I've since then enjoyed several visits to the Byron Bar for coffee. I fully intend to become a regular...

5. Edinburgh
I'd visited Edinburgh before on several occasions. However, the city has become quite important to me this year. I found the one person who is willing to put up with me there (don't worry, I'm not about to get all mushy!), and the city itself is beautiful. I finally saw Greyfriar's Bobby's grave, and the Ox Pub as featured in Ian Rankin's books. There's so much history to the city.

View from Salisbury Crags

6. Durham Cathedral
As with the previous entry, I'd been here before. However, my recent visits to Durham have allowed me to discover elements of Harry Potter. The cloister area features frequently in the first few films, and we managed to locate the door used for McGonagall's classroom. I don't know if I should be this excited, but I am!

In all, 2013 has been a wonderful year for travel. I was supposed to be going to Ireland - Dublin, Galway, Mayo, and Clare Island - but I ended up being too ill to fly out. I was disappointed, yes, but I've had a wealth of adventures this year, which helps to make up for it.

Saturday, 21 December 2013

Yes, I'm referring to the upcoming Film4 (et al) film Suffragette, due to be released in 2014. Okay, so, as a feminist, I'm naturally going to be excited about any new projects that look at the feminist movement. So what makes this so special?

Three words: Helena Bonham Carter

I know, I couldn't believe it either. There's currently not a great deal of information on IMDb concerning roles - I'm sure this'll come into light when production begins next year, but I'm secretly hoping Carey Mulligan's character, listed as Maud, is my favourite of favourite early twentieth-century feminists! - so I can't be sure that Ms Bonham Carter will be playing any of the feminist roles; perhaps her character will be part of the problem and not the solution, but I have my fingers tightly crossed that this isn't the case!

Regardless of her position, however, I'm thoroughly over the moon with this news, and cannot wait to discover more. Suffragette will be directed by Sarah Gavron and written by Abi Morgan.

I'll make sure I post about any information that I discover regarding the film, but for now, since there are currently no official pictures for Suffragette, here's my latest favourite photo of Helena!

Saturday, 30 November 2013

Ever since I started keeping a list of all the novels, plays, and collections of poetry I've been reading, I found that it acts as a wonderful encouragement for reading more. Perhaps it's because of my eternal need to make lists combined with my desire to make everything bigger and better, but whatever the reason it's definitely interesting to look back on. My memory often doesn't play ball so the list serves as a great quick recap.

Like many others, I love knowing what other people have been reading, partly because I'm nosy, and partly because it often gives me ideas for things I might like to read. With this in mind I thought I'd share with you the books I've explored over the last two months. I'll probably make this a recurring feature on my blog - we shall see what happens there. So without further delay...

For purposes of research I've devoured quite a few texts set around the sixteenth century. We have Sacred Treasonby James Forrester, and a delightful book called The Silent Woman, written by Edward Marston. However, most of the books I've read, I must confess, have been set - though not written - during the Victorian period. Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper is a personal favourite, which mixes youth and poverty in a thrilling tale that'll surely break your heart.

In this same category there's the Philippa Pearce classic Tom's Might Garden, which is wonderful and I should confess my shame that it's taken me this long to read it. I fully intend to seek out an adaptation to watch! Tales of Terror from the Tunnel's Mouth by Chris Priestley was also a thrill, and extremely disturbing even though it's a children's book!

It's thanks to a heavy workload filled with stuffy textbooks that I thought it was best to read lighter fiction, and, as you'll already be able to tell, children's and teenage fiction. With this we also have two books by Jacqueline Wilson: Queenieand Emerald Star. Wilson is the very reason I read and write - she took me through my childhood and teenage years, something for which I will always be eternally grateful. However, around the publication of Love Lessons I stopped reading her work - I was growing up. It was to be expected. I've made a pact with myself though to catch up with her novels, and keep up to date with her work. You can expect to see her name mentioned frequently in these blogposts!

I finally got round to reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stoneand the Chamber of Secrets! J.K. Rowling certainly has an interesting writing style, admirable. I'll look forward to reading the other four (I've already read the seventh).

The only other general fiction I've read over the last two months is Angels of Destruction by Keith Donohue. I've otherwise been focusing on set texts for university. Shakespeare's works include Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Twelfth Night. I've never been the biggest fan of Shakespeare and I can't say I ever will be, but some of his plays are reasonably interesting.

And, finally, it is here that I announce that I am great risk of becoming a Janeite. I've had to suppress this desire before, but now it's back and fighting hard. The delights of a new Jane Austen module at university has brought cause to read Northanger Abbey(my favourite of Austen favourites!), Sense and Sensibility (not a favourite!!), Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma. Next month I'll be rereading her other major novel, which I've previously enjoyed, so I'm looking forward to that one. My essay for the Austen assignment focused on Northanger Abbey so I've also been reading a lot of textbooks and essays about Austen. Let me tell you: this does nothing in helping me ease my desire to don Regency attire and attend great balls in Bath.

Speaking of great balls, I've, as ever, been reading lots of Byron. My current focuses just now lie around his wedding (for my dissertation) and his childhood, specifically his time spent around Mary Chaworth. Never could we have enough Byron...

The final of the books is Doctor Who: Winner Takes all by Jacqueline Raynor. I'd not read a Doctor Who novel in about four years, so this was a gripping delight, and one I' definitely recommend. Raynor really captures the essence of Eccleston's Doctor.
And there we have it! Seventeen novels over the last two months. I'll aim to beat that by the end of January, so do make sure you pop back to see if I've succeeded! For now, I'll leave you with images of some of my favourite covers from those mentioned above.

Amy x

The Silent Woman by Edward Marston

Doctor Who: Winner Takes All by Jacqueline Rayner

Emerald Star by Jacqueline Wilson

Jane Austen: The Life and Times of the World's Favourite Author by Charles Jennings

Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Right on schedule, before the 50th anniversary episode is broadcast this weekend, my copy of The Doctor and I has arrived!

The book, compiled by WhovianNet.co.uk and published by GJBpublishing.co.uk, contains a collection of essays and stories from fans of Doctor Who from all over the world, brought together to celebrate fifty years of one of Britain's best-loved TV shows. You can read more about this in my earlier blogpost here.

The Doctor and I can be purchased online directly from GJBpublishing here. To whet your appetite I've included a few images below of the front cover and a taster of my article 'Abandoning Reality to Source the Truth'. You'll have to buy the book if you wish to read the other two pages of my contribution!

Many thanks to WhovianNet and GJBpublishing alike for making this book possible. It's a fantastic concept and really highlights the strength of the Whovian community, of which I am very proud to be a part.

Tuesday, 5 November 2013

I'll admit that I wasn't overly convinced when I heard Ms Bonham Carter had been cast in this year's Marks and Spencer Christmas advert. It seemed like an odd choice, and I was concerned that she'd become too branded, too stereotyped. It doesn't need to be said that I care about her and her career too much to see this happen. Sure, being heavily associated with M&S wouldn't be too bad, but it wasn't the route down which I, as an avid supporter and admirer of her acting career, wished for her to go.

However, I'm now very, very satisfied!

She's playing the wizard in this year's advert, which is themed around Alice in Wonderland and The Wizardof Oz. She may only be in it for 17 seconds (1:36-1:53) but they are such glorious seconds that there's no doubt it's worth it! The giant green head is really effective, and her appearance afterwards is stunning. The rest of the advert is, of course, also gorgeous; the Tea Party is well-displayed, and who couldn't love the giant playing cards?

Friday, 1 November 2013

Yes, you read the title right. The Doctor & I, a creation edited by WhovianNet and written by fans of Doctor Who, is now available for pre-order.

The paperback book will be released on the 23rd November 2013 - I'm sure you'll all recognise that very special date as the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who! It consists of a fantastic 87 contributions fro all over the world as fans of the show unite to share their stories about The Doctor. It also contains a foreword by award-winning writer Richard Curtis.

The Doctor & I is a wonderful celebration of one of the world's greatest fandoms. To pre-order a copy you can do so by visiting the WhovianNet website here and selecting the relevant country. You will also find a full list of contributors and article titles there to give you a taste of what's in store. (I'm #60, with 'Abandoning Reality to Source the Truth'; I can't wait to see it in print!) It is priced at £8.99 plus regional postage.

I'm looking forward to receiving my copy of The Doctor & I, and I imagine you will be too! Keep an eye out on my YouTube channel where I will display the book upon its arrival.

And with that, let the one-month countdown to the 50th anniversary commence...

I'd like to share something with you today that took my breath away...

One of my lovely Twitter followers Joel Hoe (@JoelHoe) send me a link to a photo of one of his latest portraits. With curiosity I clicked the link, and what did I find?

Me!I'm absolutely blown away by the artist's talents. There's such an accuracy here; I'd certainly recognise myself had I not known it was me! I'll add the original image on which its based with this so you can see the comparison.

I'd like to thank the artist for this kind portrait. My great hero Lord Byron was rather particular about his portraits, wishing for them to show him in the best light, and I do expect that, if he was me, he'd fully approve of this one.

Plus, it's always worth establishing that I look better in pencil than I do in real life.

Wednesday, 30 October 2013

I should, first of all, apologise for how bare this post will appear. When I couldn't find any complete list of Byron's poetry online I decided to produce the list on my blog, and I had considered decorating it with beautiful photos of his Lordship, but decided against it upon realising that it would be far easier for anybody wishing to copy the list to do so without Byron's face in the way. However, I will leave something very pretty at the end of this very long list...

Now I stress that this is the complete list as far as the Poetical Works of Lord Byron: Complete In One Volume (Nanu Public Domain Reprints) is concerned. It does not include poems published posthumously; I am working on a list of poems taken from his letters and journals that never printed for public consumption during his lifetime, and these will be collated in another list as soon as possible. Should I (or you!) discover any poems missing from the list I will return to add them accordingly. Over time I shall endeavour to include details regarding date and place of composition for each individual poem, but for now I have just included the publication years for volumes and collections. Please note that this is done in order of publication, and not of composition, to present the poems in the order in which the general public would have enjoyed them.

On that note, I shall thank Byron for his 275 poetic contributions, and leave you with the list!

Amy xCOMPLETE LIST OF LORD BYRON'S POETRY, 1807-1824

HOURS OF IDLENESS [1807]

'On the Death of a Young Lady, cousin to the author, and very dear
to him'

'To E--'

'To D--'

'Epitaph on a Friend'

'A Fragment'

'On Leaving Newstead Abbey'

Lines written in 'Letters of an Italian Nun and an English
Gentleman; by J. J, Rousseau: founded on Facts'

'Answer to the foregoing, addressed to Miss--'

Adrian's Address to his Soul when Dying'

Translations from Catullus, Ad Lesbiam

Translations of the 'Epitaph of Virgil and Tibulus, by Domitius
Marsus

Saturday, 31 August 2013

I know what you're thinking: Amy, I didn't even know you were writing fiction again.

Well, neither did I!

After a few awkward months - okay, seven years - of writers' block, a few occurrences led to the writing of the first sentence of this novel exactly ten months ago to the date of its 31st August 2013 release (yes, that was Halloween, in case you hadn't worked it out; all the more reason to love the day!).

After copious amounts of blood, sweat, and tears, I can now share with you the finished product. Walk On is available in paperback and ebook from UK, US, and European Amazon websites. It can be found on Amazon UK here (paperback) and here (ebook).

Description: As Maggie walked down the aisle she thought she was entering a happy marriage. Over the years though, Peter's violence towards his wife has escalated. As Maggie escapes into the four walls of her mind her guardian angel steps in to help her find the right path. Angel Ariana calls upon the past life of Balgownie's Fiona McGonnell to assist Maggie. Will it be enough to guide her though, or will Maggie's life continue to be at risk until it's too late?

If you read Walk On, I'd love to know what you think. Feel free to drop me an email or send me a message!

Amy x

EDIT:

Below is a selection of images taken to promote the novel. Photography by Mark Slater.

Saturday, 22 June 2013

Okay, so despite the fact that the 26-degree heat decided to force my pale Scottishness into three days of agonising heatstroke, I couldn't have asked for a more exciting visit to London. I thought I'd share a little of my adventure with you here. You can also watch my Follow Me Around video for some footage from my trip!

Sweeney Todd
Considering my all-time favourite film is Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, I naturally had to pay Fleet Street a visit! The location for Mrs Lovett's Pie Shop is number 8 Bell Yard (one source argues that it's number 7, but when you see the buildings it makes more sense that it's number 8...), and I could just imagine Mrs Lovett and Todd peeping out of the window as they do in the film! Unfortunately Todd's barber shop, located at 186 Fleet street) was fully boarded up. However, I did manage to have a peak down the side corridor!

Eva Gore-Booth, St-John's-at-Hampstead Churchyard
I couldn't stay in Belsize Park without paying Eva Gore-Booth a visit in Hampstead. She's buried alongside Ms Roper, and I think it's safe to say that their headstone is one of the most beautiful around.

Harrow School
What better way for a Byromaniac to explore their greatest love than to visit Harrow School? Byron was, of course, a resident at Harrow for four years, so to step foot on the grounds he walked is wonderfully surreal. I was fortunate enough to be able to look through artifacts in the archives - I was able to handle some very amazing things! - but naturally I'm not able to share the images I took with you. However, I hope you'll enjoy a few photos of the school, and Byron's Peachey Stone and Allegra's plaque at St Mary's Churchyard.

Kensal Green CemeteryContinuing my Byron adventure I went in search of Annabella Milbanke and Hobhouse in Kensal Green Cemetery. Considering the size of the cemetery, it's fair to say that they took a lot of searching, but thanks to a friend's directions (you can check out Tee's Byron blog here) I was able to locate them. Even as one who is not keen on Milbanke, to put it kindly, I found it quite overwhelming to be right next to her. It's quite sad to see that they've not spelt her name correctly...

And finally...
I was able to find the plaques at Holles Street and St James's for Byron's birth place and Ada Lovelace's address. Aren't they gorgeous?

Oh, and I saw Helena Bonham Carter. Yes, the one whose initials are tattooed to my wrist? Yes. Her. I'm pretending to be a lot more casual about this than is true...
Remember to check out my Follow Me Around video if you wish to see more.

I'm not sure why I was so worried. Perhaps I feared it would be too overwhelming. I'd like to say that I was wrong to panic, but let's be honest...

The place is amazing. It really is overwhelming! A friend and I were only planning to go there for a drink in the newly refurbished Byron's Bar (the name alone sends delightful shivers through me, so you can imagine my excitement when I saw the Albanian costume portrait hanging up when we entered the room...), but after I enquired about the room in which Byron and Annabella tied the knot (or rather the room in which Byron's life slowly began to seep away from him), we were taken on a mini tour around the building.

Well, that was certainly an unexpected joy; I cannot thank the wonderful member of staff who took us around enough. Seaham Hall is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. I love its connection with Byron, but it's unfortunate that it's not connected with happy memories. Thankfully, the atmosphere hasn't been tainted by the havoc that was caused just short of two centuries ago with the troubled union of Byron and Milbanke.

If you ever get the chance to visit Seaham Hall, I strongly recommend that you do. It's sensational in every aspect, and this first visit is certainly not my last!